Telegram of Congratulations from Mao Zedong, et al. on the 10th Anniversary of the Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (September 8, 1958)

To Comrade Kim Il-sung, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Comrade Choe Yong-gon, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea:

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, we, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, extend our warmest fraternal congratulations to you and the entire Korean people.

The founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea marks the great victory of the Korean people's long and arduous struggle for independence and freedom.

Over the past ten years, the heroic Korean people, under the leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea, have traversed an arduous and glorious path. Shortly after the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the American aggressors launched a frenzied attack on it, attempting to restore the dark colonial system on this free land.

However, the heroic Korean people were not intimidated. With the support of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union and the peace-loving people of the world, and with the participation of the Chinese People's Volunteers, they united as one, fought bravely, and finally defeated the invading army headed by US imperialism, achieving a brilliant victory.

This great victory of the Korean people greatly encouraged the struggle of the people of all countries for independence and freedom and made a significant contribution to stopping war and defending peace.

After the Korean armistice, the Korean people overcame numerous difficulties, quickly healed the wounds of war, and are now carrying out socialist construction with great enthusiasm.

The Chinese people are delighted and encouraged by these achievements of our Korean brothers. The great friendship between China and Korea, forged in blood on the basis of proletarian internationalism in the common struggle against aggression, is unbreakable.

The friendship and close cooperation between our two peoples are of great significance for strengthening the unity of the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union and safeguarding peace in Asia and the world.

We wish the Korean people new and greater achievements in the great cause of building socialism and in the struggle for the peaceful reunification of Korea.

May the fraternal friendship between the Chinese and Korean peoples last forever.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Liu Shaoqi, Chairman of the People's Republic of China
Zhou Enlai, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China

[Date] September 8, 1958, in Beijing

Published in the *People's Daily* on September 9, 1958.